it's well constructed except the furniture and sight screws work loose with firing

very heavy- the aluminum receiver version would help msomewhat

accuracy was never a strongpoint-in fact they were rejected by a couple of service branches according to the author of "American Thunder 2" a book dedicated to the weapon

the sights on the m1 model are very basic-fixed hole at the rear, with alot of "play" in the target field

having said all that- who cares? it's an iconic member of the most famous guns in history and is a blast to shoot

i had hoped to license a short 10.5 inch barrel($200 + installation) for historical accuracy but apparently that isn't legal in my state

navajo

November 11, 2009, 09:04 PM

Mine is a West Hurley. Put all 30 rounds in a hole about 4X4 inches at 25 yds.
It does not like hollow points. Shoots low and left.
Loads of fun.

dawico

November 11, 2009, 09:07 PM

Auto Ordinance Tommy Gun correct?

I highly recommend you DO NOT get one, atleast the aluminum receiver model anyway. The rear sight on mine hit me in the face the first time I shot it (20 rounds). I retightened the screws with red Loc-tite and shot it again. 20 more rounds and rear sight to the face again. Now the screw holes are stripped in the 1/8th of an inch they are tapped into the aluminum. Also the bolt hold open doesn't work now. A lot of drilling and grinding later, those are fixed. Now the 30 round stick mag doesn't feed right. The bullets are digging into the feed ramp. The aluminum has gouges in it from the mouths of the cases hitting it. A bunch of semi circles on the ramp. Tried to polish it with no luck fixing the problem.

The only good thing about it was the 100 round drum fed well the one time I used it. Ofcourse, I had to repaint it because it totally rusted up from sitting in my garage over night. That was my fault I guess.

The older versions are much better I hear. If you buy a steel receiver Tommy maybe you won't have near the headaches I did. I also hear that the aluminum versions wear out quickly. Steel bolt riding on aluminum, makes sense to me. I did not keep it long enough to find out. I had to sell it before I smashed it with a sledge hammer. I paid $1300 for it with the 100 round drum (have seen the same for $1800), but it was still a major rip off.

It is a good looking gun, an American Icon, but I was very disappointed in my gun.

Jim K

November 11, 2009, 09:10 PM

The main problem inherent in that semi-auto design is that without the advanced primer ignition of the SMG, it takes a lot of force to cock the gun for the first shot.

Jim

busterbrown

November 13, 2009, 05:07 PM

cocking force has lessened with time, but yea it was tough when new

there is an extended cocking handle available from Kahr for $40; not historical and not worth it to me